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Kajimoto let out a long, heavy sigh.
He was really foolish, truly.
He had watched yesterday's match and only thought that this underworld messenger would send his monsters to another dimension like he did to Manjoume yesterday. He never expected that he would actually change his tactics this time and start playing lockdown.
But speaking of which, why did this guy have so many different underworld tactics?
Did he not have a single tactic that involved a fair and square duel?
This time, Kajimoto finally realized that the one standing opposite him was a dog, not a human. His Perfect Machina King on the field hadn't attacked yet, but even if it did, it would be meaningless.
The effect of Guardian's Force didn't say it could only be used once per turn. Even if he could summon five monsters at once and attack, it would only repeat the cycle of "place counter - remove counter - battle destruction negated."
So, helplessly, he could only end his turn with a glare.
Then it was Yuugen's turn again. Yuugen didn't waste time, didn't even summon a monster, and went straight into the Battle Phase. Magical Exemplar arrogantly flew over the opponent's front field and unleashed a barrage of attacks.
And at the moment of attack, Guardian's Force's effect triggered again, adding another Spell Counter. Magical Exemplar's attack power rose back to 1100, landing a critical hit of eleven hundred damage.
[Kajimoto Makoto, LP: 3400 → LP: 2300]
"Set one card face-down, end turn," Yuugen said.
"Damn it... My turn."
Kajimoto's sense of crisis grew stronger. He had to find a way to deal with that ridiculous combo opposite him, otherwise, he might really be beaten to death by direct attacks.
"Draw!"
Kajimoto drew his card, and upon seeing it, he suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha! Achieving an unbreakable combo through the complementary effects of equip cards and monsters is indeed a beautiful tactic. But! My countermeasure is still superior!
I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card from my hand - Mystical Space Typhoon! It can destroy one Spell or Trap Card on the field. I choose to destroy the Equip Magic 'Guardian's Force'!"
A dark whirlwind swept up, and the magic card in Yuugen's back row instantly shattered into fragments. The golden shield on Magical Exemplar dissipated, and its attack power returned to normal.
Kajimoto had studied his opponent's matches beforehand. He had noticed early on that this person named Yuugen might be a lockdown player, seemingly particularly fond of those red pits that made people's lives miserable.
So, his deck was already packed with three Mystical Space Typhoons and one "Heavy Storm," specifically to counter lockdown strategies.
[Magical Exemplar, ATK: 1100 → ATK: 600]
"A decent tactic, but that magic card itself was the weakness," Kajimoto said smugly. "Battle! Go, Perfect Machina King! Crush that disgusting small fry for me!"
The Machina King, as if it too had been holding back unbearably, immediately flew forward upon receiving the command, raising its iron hammer, eager to smash the hateful little thing into powder.
"Flip set card."
Yuugen snapped his fingers, and the back row card flipped open.
"Continuous Trap - Gravity Bind. Level 4 or higher monsters on the field cannot attack."
Kajimoto: "..."
Motherf— (greeting).
Kajimoto now felt as if ten thousand Lava Golems were rampaging through his heart. He had a Level 4 and a Level 8 monster on his field, and he had already used his newly drawn Mystical Space Typhoon on Guardian's Force. This single card directly sealed off all his attacks again.
But he still had a way!
"I Normal Summon 'Dark Catapulter' in defense mode."
[Dark Catapulter, DEF: 1500]
"End turn."
"I see, so there's still this move." Yuugen understood.
He remembered this card too; it was a monster used by Jaden Yuki in the anime. Simply put, its effect allowed it to destroy a Spell or Trap Card on the opponent's field during the next turn.
In other words, as long as this thing could survive until the next turn, it could destroy the "Gravity Bind" lockdown on Yuugen's field and launch an attack.
This was also an adjustment Kajimoto made for this match, his struggle as a fair play duelist against the lockdown from the toxic play.
But it didn't matter.
"My turn, draw." Yuugen drew his card, then without hesitation, "Activate the Continuous Spell 'Level Limit - Area B' from my hand.
As long as this card is on the field, all Level 4 or higher monsters on the field... are changed to Defense Position."
[Machina Soldier, ATK: 1600 → DEF: 1800]
[Perfect Machina King, ATK: 3700 → DEF: 1500]
Kajimoto felt like vomiting blood.
Seriously bro, you have this thing too?
Kajimoto was utterly stunned now. He had never imagined someone could play cards so lockdown-focused. This guy wasn't here to participate in a competition; he was here to take revenge on society, wasn't he?
So, even if Dark Catapulter's effect activated next turn, he could only destroy one Spell or Trap Card. But the current situation was that whether he destroyed [Gravity Bind] or [Level Limit - Area B], as long as one remained on the field, he still couldn't attack.
And he also noticed that Magical Exemplar was Level 3, conveniently just below the Level 4 limit. Which meant only he couldn't attack, while Yuugen could attack freely...
This wasn't over yet.
"Next, I Summon 'Alien Shocktrooper' from my hand in attack mode."
[Alien Shocktrooper, ATK: 700]
"This card's effect is the same as Magical Exemplar's; it can also attack directly," Yuugen paused, smiling slightly. "By the way, Alien Shocktrooper is also Level 3, affected by neither 'Level Limit - Area B' nor 'Gravity Bind.'"
Kajimoto Makoto: "......"
He wanted to say, no, that thing wasn't an Alien Shocktrooper.
It was an Underworld Shocktrooper.
"Magical Exemplar, Alien Shocktrooper, direct attack!"
Two direct hits in a row!
Perfect Machina King and Machina Soldier watched helplessly as these two lockdown creatures flew past their heads one after another, pinning their master to the ground and rubbing him furiously.
Getting beaten up by monsters, so angry, but nothing can be done...
[Kajimoto Makoto, LP: 2300 → LP: 1000]
Kajimoto Makoto didn't say a word, but veins were popping on the back of his hands and forehead. Estimated red temperature progress: 90%...
"Set one card, end turn."
"My turn."
Kajimoto Makoto took a deep breath.
Calm down, stay calm.
As the dojo master said, the more critical the moment, the less you should panic. You never know the result of a duel until the last second.
Believe in your deck. Remember the daily draw practice.
And now was the time to verify the results of that training.
Kajimoto Makoto closed his eyes tightly, chanting inwardly.
Can I get another Typhoon!
"Draw!"
The next moment, Kajimoto Makoto almost jumped out of his skin.
This draw created a miracle!
"Activate the magic card 'Heavy Storm' from my hand!" Kajimoto raised the card high like a priest conducting a ritual. "Destroy all Spell and Trap Cards on both players' fields!"
Heavy Storm, the strongest back-row removal artifact, indiscriminately flipping the table.
"He actually drew the Storm this turn..." Yuugen muttered to himself. "So even passersby in the anime world have god-draws in desperate situations?"
However...
Yuugen snapped his fingers.
"Flip set card. Counter Trap - Judgment of Anubis."
Kajimoto was still cackling maniacally: "Useless! Heavy Storm is the ultimate nemesis of Spells and Traps! Nothing can stand before the Great Storm... uh, wait, what's that?"
"'Judgment of Anubis' can only be activated when your opponent activates a Spell Card that includes the effect 'destroy Spell/Trap Card(s) on the field.'"
Yuugen explained calmly.
"Discard 1 card; negate the activation of that Spell Card and destroy it. Then, you can destroy 1 face-up monster your opponent controls, and inflict damage to your opponent equal to the ATK of the destroyed monster."
Kajimoto's eyes glazed over.
Negate Heavy Storm's activation, and destroy one monster, and inflict damage equal to its ATK...
"..."
Nani!???
While he was still reeling in shock, the storm dissipated under some invisible curse. Dark energy permeated the field, coalescing into the fierce visage of the god Anubis, glaring menacingly at Kajimoto's field.
"According to its effect, I destroy 'Perfect Machina King' on your field," Yuugen declared with a wave of his hand. "Take damage equal to 'Perfect Machina King's' attack power, which is 3700 points."
The god Anubis opened its mouth, spewing forth terrifying dark breath. The body of the Machina King instantly melted within it, and the powerful dark current continued unabated, engulfing Kajimoto Makoto as well.
"Uwaaaaaah!!!"
The tactile impact equivalent to 3700 points of damage sent Kajimoto crashing to the ground. As he fell, his eyes remained wide open, looking like he died with grievances.
As if even nailed in his coffin, buried underground, he would shout with a decaying voice—
—I have never seen such a person who takes revenge on society!
[Kajimoto Makoto, LP: 1000 → LP: 0]